The Rea Vaya Points system will see commuters loading points instead of cash onto their Rea Vaya smartcards to pay for their fares. Each point will cost R1 to purchase.

The first benefit is that passengers who load points onto their smartcards will no longer have to pay loading fees, which translates into a significant saving.

The second benefit is that the new system introduces bonus points - extra points that passengers earn when loading points. The more points loaded in a single transaction, the greater number of bonus points that are earned. These bonus points can then be used for additional trips on Rea Vaya.

From 1 May to 30 June 2016, passengers will earn up to 25% bonus points when buying points for R51 or more.

The third benefit is that points can be loaded not only at the cashiers at any Rea Vaya station, but also at new self-service vending machines that have been installed at selected stations along Rea Vaya's busiest routes.

Rea Vaya Fares Collection Manager Bambhatha Hlubi shows how easy it will be to buy points using the new self-service vending machines. (Photo: Rudo Mungoshi)

'This will address many of our fare collection concerns'

Transport MMC Christine Walters, speaking at a media launch at Rea Vaya's SABC Media Park Station on Friday, 29 April, said the new system would address many of the fare collection concerns that had been raised by Rea Vaya passengers.

"Our aim is to ensure that public transport in the city is fast, safe, reliable and affordable, and the new Rea Vaya points system and the vending machines will make travelling on Rea Vaya easy and hassle free, while offering our customers real savings," she said.

More about Rea Vaya's new bonus points

From 1 May to 30 June 2016, Rea Vaya passengers will earn 10% in bonus points every time they buy between R51 and R100 worth of points in a single transaction.

For example, if you buy points for R100, you'll not only get your 100 points, you'll get an extra 10 points on top of that - adding up to 110 points in total. That's R10 worth (10 points' worth) of extra Rea Vaya travelling, just for loading R100 in one go.

And the more you load in one go, the bigger your bonus:

If you buy R101-R200 worth of points in a single transaction, your bonus increases to 15%. (So, R200 will get you 200 points + 30 bonus points = 230 points in total.)

More about Rea Vaya's new self-service vending machines

The new vending machines will help alleviate long queues at the station cashier booths by offering a self-service option for passengers who want to load their Rea Vaya smartcards using their debit or credit cards.

The vending machines will accept all debit and credit cards with the exception of American Express and Diners Club, and using them will be a matter of simply following the instructions on the vending machine screen.

Rea Vaya station staff have been trained in the new system and will be on hand to help passengers whenever necessary. And for those who wish to load using cash - or who don't feel read to try the vending machines - the cashier loading option is always there.

The new vending machines will be online from 1 May at the following stations:

Thokoza Park

Orlando Stadium

UJ Sophiatown Res

Park Station

SABC Media Park

Two things you DON'T need to worry about

You WON'T lose the money already loaded on your card. Any money you've already loaded is still good for travelling with Rea Vaya. If you like, you can ask a cashier to convert it into points. But you can also just can travel on this money it until it's finished. Any new loading from 1 May - this will give you Rea Vaya points.

You WON'T be paying more for your trip. The fares have not changed. The amount deducted from your card is still based on the distance you travel, and will be exactly the same after 1 May, in cash value terms, as it was before.